Socket for vacuum tubes, etc.



June 7, 1938.

Filed Aug. 1, 1933 n e M M a m ATTRNEY R O N E V m Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

Milton Alden, Application August 4,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical connectors and particularly to a type of socket adapted to be mounted upon a panel or plate, usually of metal.

effective construction which can be made economically.

Another object is to provide a compact con- Another object is to provide a construction in which the insulating body of the socket can be secured in the panel without the use of screws or rivets.

Another object is to provide a construction in which the contacts can be mounted or held in the insulating body without the use of rivets.

Another object is to provide a construction of maximum contact emciency in a minimum size.

Another object is to provide means for facilitating the insertion of a tube into the socket.

Another object is to provide for convenient means of identification of a type of socket.

Another object is to provide convenient means for positioning the tube prongs with respect to the various contacts of p the socket.

In carrying out the invention I provide a molded insulating body which can be inserted into a hole in a supporting panel and automatically locked or secured in place by simply turning the socket body.

A number of modifications are shown in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a socket embodying one form of my invention mounted in a fragment of a panel board or plate.

Fig. 2 shows the plate without the socket.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the socket with some of the contacts omitted.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the socket showing it in position in a panel which is shown in section and showing one form of contact.

Fig. 5 is a side view and partial section of the insulating body of the socket of Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of different forms of contacts adapted to be employed in an insulating body such as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction on the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the plane of the line 9-'-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows the panel without the socket.

One object is to provides. simple, compact and" Brockton, Mass.

1933, Serial No. 683,575

In the preferred form the body i5 is formed of molded insulating material of suitable character, cylindrical in shape and adapted to be inserted into a hole in the' panel plate l6. Edges of the plate at two or more points are extended inwardly at IT to interlock with segmental screw threads l8. These projections Il may be formed by simply indenting the metal adjacent the edge of the opening in the plate. There will be as many segmental threads i 8 as there are projections ll. In the present instance each rib or thread l8 extends around approximately 270 of the socket body.

The upper part of the socket body is provide with a flange or rim l9 and a central web or platform 20 having apertures 2| arranged to accommodate the proper number of contacts. These holes are arranged close tothe rim l9 so that the rim serves as a locating ring around the upper ends of the holes 2|. The insulating body is provided with depending tubular portions 22 which are preferably integral with the outer wall 23 of the body l5. This wall can therefore be made quite thin and yet is reinforced by the tubular projections 22.

Similarly the platform 20 may be quite thin and it is reinforced by the tubular members 22 as Well as by the rim i9. These ribs or threads I8 are constructed and arranged so that the body may be applied to panels of different thicknesses. By arranging the projections H in proper positions the sockets may be positioned in a predetermined manner and by suitably arranging the projections for all of the holes for all of the sockets of a panel the sockets may all be brought into proper alignment.

The contacts may be formed in various ways. In Figs. 1 and 4 each contact 24 is tubular and split longitudinally so as to be resilient. At its upper end it is provided with a small projection or projections 25 to hold the thrust of the tube prong when it is being inserted into the contact. This contact is also provided with an outwardly projecting lug 26 which may be forced outwardly after the parts are assembled or it may be in the form of a spring finger which will automatically spring into place when the contact is inserted so as to hold the contact against withdrawal. This contact may be provided with a groove 21 so as to form a pair of jaws adapted toreceive between them the wire to be soldered and thus temporarily hold the wire preparatory to and during the soldering operation. These contacts will, of course, be made of the appropriate size 

